I have suffered from depression for most of my life.
Once the winter months start approaching, and the days become shorter, darker and colder, my depression can get much worse. Even those of us who don’t suffer from depression all year round, can still get a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.
SAD affects most people during the winter months, mainly from November to March.
It has been linked to a lack of sunlight, and the reduction of serotonin levels in the brain.
Once spring arrives, the weather is warmer, days are longer and lighter and brighter, the person’s serotonin levels rise once more, and they are back to their pre-sad selves.
I have been using light Therapy for 3 months now in an effort to cure my depression.
I live in a small part of England in a city called Newcastle. I live on the edge of Scotland. we have our own weather front in my village. We are situated at the top of a huge hill with valleys below.
When it snows in our part of the world, everything stops. It is a place where we can get cut off from the surrounding villages quite easily.
It can be cold and windy in the summer months, and we even had snow in August this year.
I started using light therapy because I knew I was lacking the sunlight that I needed.
I’m pretty sure I was meant to live in a sunny country, but something went wrong and I ended up in Newcastle.
I purchased a UV sun lamp for the days when there is no sun, and I meditate daily in sunlight.
Today it is cold, it is blowing what we call a Hoolie in Geordie Land, for the uninitiated this is similar to a hurricane, only the English version.
But both look like this.
It is very cold with a windchill of -100 if you get my drift.
But there’s blue sky and the sun is shining, you don’t want to miss this kind of opportunity when it presents itself.
Having used both natural sun and a Therapy lamp, I can safely say that the suns rays cannot be beaten on effectiveness in treating my depression. My serotonin levels must be sky high, I am happy for the first time in forever.
Even if it is cold, I still toddle up to the joint at the top of the garden, with my winter woolies, hot water bottle in hand, and gratitude for a beautiful sunny day in Autumn.
The neighbours are probably wondering why I am presently lying on my sun lounger, in the freezing cold wind, with my hat, coat and boots on, sun bathing in winter.
I think that they are used to me by now.
I know it doesn’t look like a normal thing to be doing, but I am anything but normal, but if they could only feel what I could feel, they would all be out doing it themselves.
A neighbour Lynda has confided that she too suffers from SAD, so watch this space for my new winter sun bathing neighbour.
Give it a go, if you have depression what do you have to lose ?
People underestimate the importance that sunlight plays in our daily lives, on our mental and psychical health. Just like In nature, we need sunlight to survive.
Invest in a UV lamp if you don’t get much sun in the winter months. They won’t break the bank at around £30 – £40 on Amazon, and it could be just what you need.
Look after yourself always love Betty x
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